Dewatering device



Feb. 13, 1934. w BEHNKE 1,946,663

DEWATERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORY {a ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1934. G. w. BEHNKE DEWATERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 burrs stares PATENT OFFICE V Simplicity Engineering- Company,

Durand,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 5, 1930. Serial No. 493,518

6 Claims.

This invention relates to dewatering devices, and more specifically to a device for dewatering sand, gravel and other materials of a granular classification, the principal object being the provision of means whereby sand, gravel or other materials admixed with water and pumped therein may be dewatered easily and with facility.

Another object of the invention is to design a very simple, practical, and substantial wheel provided with a plurality of perforated buckets or pockets, so designed and arranged that the dewatered material will be automatically discharged at a predetermined point in the travel of the wheel.

A further object is to provide a dewatering wheel of maximum capacity, which can be operated with a minimum of power, which requires little or no attention, and which is provided with reversible scraper orloading plates.

A still further object is to provide means for preventing the blinding of the perforated plate or screen, so that maximum efficiency is provided at all times.

The above and other objects will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of my dewatering wheel and tank, a part being broken away to show the bucket construction.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing one of the pockets in the wheel.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the scraper plate, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the device, showing the means to prevent seepage of Water from one bucket into another.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing means for producing a hammer blow on the pockets.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 2 indicates a tank preferably formed of sheet metal, reinforced by means of angles 3, and provided with an outlet 4 to permit the drainage thereof when desired.

A discharge chute 5 is mounted on the front end of the tank as shown, and is held in posi- 7 adjacent pocket.

tion by means of spaced apart braces 6, said chute discharging into across conveyor, hopper, or other receptacle (not shown) The dewatering wheel is designated by the numeral 7 and comprises a pair of spaced apart disc shaped side plates 8, having reinforcing bands 9 secured to the edges thereof, centrally disposed bosses 10 being secured to said side plates by means of bolts 11, and a shaft 12 projects th'erethrough and is keyed to said bosses, '65 the said shaft being journaled in split bearings 13 which are mounted on the top of the tank, and a coupling 14 is provided as shown, said shaft being driven from any convenient source of power.

A plurality of buckets or pockets 15 are provided in the outer rim of the wheel, and are disposed at an angle with relation to the axis thereof, each bucket comprising a perforated plate or screen 16, the edges of which are turned as shown at 17, these edges being riveted to the side plates by means of rivets 18, the bottom being rounded as at 19, the lower end being turned and riveted to the plate which forms'the A loading plate or scraper 20 is secured to the edge of each bucket, and projects beyond the side plates as shown, the ends being flanged and secured to the side plates by means of rivets 21; this plate or lip is relatively heavy, both the edges being angled as indicated at 22, so that should the outer edge becomejagged or rough, the plate canbe easily reversed so that a smooth working edge is provided. I,

A pipe. 23 connects to a hydraulic dredge or ,90 other source of supply (not shown), the upper end projecting into the tank 2 as clearly shown in 1 of the drawing, and sand, gravel, or other granular material admixed with water is pumped through said pipe and into the tank and accumulates therein, a cover 24 being provided as shown. It is of course understood that the materials may be flumed into the tank, or entered in any other desired manner and as occasion demands.

The wheel 7 rotates in the direction as indicated by the arrows, the loading plate 20 projecting into the accumulated materials, which are automatically loaded into the pockets as the wheel rotates; the fact that considerable water .105 is admixed with the material also assists in the loading, and as the wheel travels, the water in the material in each pocket or bucket, will drain through the perforated plate or screen, the material being tumbled or rolled as the Wheel 1:10

revolves so that the dewatering is greatly facilitated, and as each pocket reaches a point adjacent the discharge chute, the angle of inclination will be such that the load in each pocket will be automatically discharged in a fairly dewatered condition, the sand and fine materials flowing away with the water, through the openings 25 provided in the side plates directly adjacent the pockets, an opening 26 being provided in the tank as shown and serves as an overflow for the water and materials carried in suspension therein, the heavier and coarser materials being delivered as above described.

Balls 27 can be provided in the wheel to prevent the blinding of the plate or screens which form the pockets, these balls riding upwardly on the pockets as the wheel rotates, and then falling back and striking against each pocket as they fall, this jar or hammer blow preventing any blinding of the plate or screen, or any other suitable means may be provided for accomplishing this result.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing I have shown one method'of preventing drainage from one pocket to the other; this comprises a flap 28, of either rigid or flexible material, which is secured directly adjacent the point where the bottom edge of one pocket connects to the other pocket, and as the wheel rotates and the individual pockets assume positions where it is possible for water to seep and drip from one pocket into the adjacent pocket, this flap covers the end of the adjacent pocket so that the water is deflected downwardly into the tank, thereby assuring a maximum of dewatering efficiency.

The wheel has a large capacity, is of stron and rugged construction, and requires a minimum of power to operate.

From the' foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical, and inexpensive dewatering wheel, for dewatering sand, gravel and other materials of a granular classification.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a receptacle for receiving a mixture of water and solid materials, a dewatering wheel projecting into said receptacle and provided with perforated pockets adapted to receive said mixture, the inner end of one pocket being secured to the bottom wall of the adjacent pocket at a point intermediate its length said pockets being disposed to automatically discharge outwardly and into an adjacent discharge chute at a predetermined point in the rotation of the wheel.

2. In combination, a receptacle for receiving materials admixed with water, a driven dewatering wheel adjacent thereto and projecting into said receptacle, perforated pockets in the outer periphery of said wheel and adapted to receive said mixture, each pocket comprising a pair of side walls and a single plate, the inner end of which is curved and secured to the plate which forms the adjacent pocket and at a point intermediate its length said pockets being disposed to automatically discharge outwardly and. away from the wheel at a predetermined point in the rotation thereof.

3. In combination, a receptacle for receiving an admixture of water and granular materials, a hollow driven dewatering wheel mounted thereon and provided with perforated pockets adapted to receive said admixture and discharge outwardly at a predetermined point in the travel thereof, and a loose weight confined in said wheel for setting up a series of hammer blows on said pockets as the wheel is rotated.

4. A dewatering wheel comprising a pair of spaced apart side plates, perforated plates secured between said side plates and around the outer rim thereof with the inner edge of each plate secured to the bottom wall of the adjacent plate at a point intermediate its length and forming a pocket, said pockets being angularly disposed with relation to the axis of the wheel, and discharging outwardly therefrom.

5. A dewatering wheel comprising a pair of spaced apart side plates, perforated plates between said side plates and disposed around the outer rim thereof with the inner end of each perforated plate secured'to the bottom wall of the adjacent plate to form a pocket, a scraper plate secured on the edge of each pocket, said pockets being angularly disposed with relation to the axis of said wheel, and being adapted to discharge outwardly therefrom.

6. In combination, a receptacle for receiving a mixture of water and solid materials, a dewatering wheel projecting into said receptacle and provided with perforated pockets adapted to receive said mixture, said pockets being disposed to automatically discharge at a predetermined point in the rotation of the wheel, and flaps secured to each pocket for preventing drainage from one pocket to the other.

GEORGE W. BEHNKE. 

